Space Explorers Episode Two Streaming For Free Until July 23 On Quest

The second episode of Space Explorers: The ISS Experience is available to stream for free in Oculus Venues on Quest, starting today and running until July 23.

The event is running in celebration of National Moon Day (which itself commemorates Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon) and is available on a 24-hour loop in Oculus Venues for Quest users.

The episode, titled ‘Advance’, is the second in a planned four-part series from prolific and veteran immersive media creators Felix & Paul Studios, in association with Time Studios. Here’s a synopsis of the episode:

The daily workload of conducting pioneering scientific experiments continues on the Space Station as the crew prepares for the departure of three astronauts who have completed their six month stay. A changing of the guard offers an opportunity to reflect on the vital role of women in space. 

The first episode in the series was available to stream for free in Venue back in May. However, if you missed it, you can catch up by downloading the Space Explorers app for Quest.

The ISS Experience is the second series offered by Felix & Paul Studios as part of Space Explorers, the first of which is titled The Journey Begins and features two episodes. The individual episodes, from The Journey Begins and The ISS Experience, are available for $2.99 each as an in-app purchase.

Episodes 3 of The ISS Experience is due out in the Fall, while episode 4 is set for a Winter 2021 release. The series has also been nominated for an Emmy this week, competing in the Outstanding Interactive Program category.

Step Inside the International Space Station Like Never Before With Cinematic VR Series ‘ISS Experience’

Felix & Paul Studios are one of the most prolific creative companies when it comes to cinematic virtual reality (VR), with two of its pieces Marshall from Detroit and Traveling While Black currently at the Sundance Film Festival. Continuing its relentless content creation, the studio has announced that in collaboration with TIME the pair will be combining their expertise in the creation of a new VR series called ISS Experience.

ISS Experience - inside

ISS Experience will be a documentary series filmed both in and around the International Space Station (ISS) over the course of a year. Thanks to the support of the International Space Station, U.S. National Laboratory and the access provided by NASA, will document life on board, capturing the first-ever spacewalk in cinematic 360, learning about what it’s like to live there whilst providing insights into the future of space exploration.

“We are excited to be working with Felix & Paul Studios to bring this project to many different audiences, across many different platforms,” said Mia Tramz, Emmy-winning VR producer and editorial director of Enterprise and Immersive Experiences at TIME in a statement. “This project will have a life on digital, immersive and physical platforms, and will ultimately serve as an educational experience to inspire generations to come.”

To begin capturing content for the ISS Experience TIME and Felix & Paul Studios launched two specialised Z CAM V1 Pro cameras to the ISS on 5th December 2018. These were adapted by Felix & Paul Studios incorporating purpose-built hardware and software that allows the crew of astronauts to shoot in these unique conditions.

Two additional cameras are slated to reach the ISS early this year, built to film outside of the ISS and to capture the spacewalk.

“Everything we have done to date as a studio has led up to this moment. We’ve immersed audiences around the world in extraordinary settings—from the White House to Eminem’s Detroit to the plains of the Serengeti—but space is the ultimate destination,” said Félix Lajeunesse, Emmy-winning creative director at Felix & Paul Studios. “We’re proud to be on this ambitious journey with our partners at TIME, producing the single most immersive experience ever made of life in space on the International Space Station.”

When completed the series will be distributed as both a digital XR experience and physical ticketed experiential exhibition at select museums and public locations. When these details are made available VRFocus will let you know.